The Pacific Islands Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Pacific Islands Regional Office manages programs that support both domestic and international conservationand management of living marine resources within the Pacific. The Pacific Islands Region is comprised of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. Pacific islands.

What's Hot Now

NOAA Fisheries is pleased to announce the 2018 Saltonstall-Kennedy (SK) Grant competition is open for applications.

The goal of the SK program is to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. The FY18 solicitation seeks applications that fall into one of four priorities:

Marine Aquaculture

Adapting to Environmental Changes and Other Long Term Impacts in Marine Ecosystem

NOAA awards $5.8 million in grants to support endangered, threatened species recovery

NOAA announces $5.8 million in funding for six new projects and the continuation of 22 multi-year projects under the 2017 Species Recovery Grant Program. Proposals are now being accepted under the FY2018 Species Recovery Grants to Tribes and Species Recovery Grants to States programs. Funding opportunities count towards recovering species and tracks with our mission of preserving our marine resources for future generations.

Application period for 2018 grants now open! Apply now atwww.grants.gov.
Applications must be received by November 1, 2017.

NOAA Fisheries determines that the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) does not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act

In response to a petition and after conducting a comprehensive status review of the species, we have determined that the Pacific bluefin tuna does not warrant listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act at this time.

NOAA Fisheries publishes an interim rule with requirements for longline vessels operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO)

Effective August 4, 2017, this interim rule modifies the bigeye tuna catch limit for U.S. longline vessels in the WCPO to 3,138 metric tons for calendar year 2017, accounting for a catch overage in 2016. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments on this interim rule and issue a final rule, responding to comments as appropriate. Comments on the interim rule must be submitted by September 5, 2017. The interim rule, including instructions for submitting public comments, can be found at Regulations.gov.

NOAA Fisheries found that a petition to list ten species of giant clams as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act presents sufficient evidence to warrant further consideration for seven of the species. We will now conduct status reviews for those seven species throughout their ranges: Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna squamosa, T. costata, T. gigas, T. derasa, and T. tevoroa. Three of the giant clam species, Tridacna maxima, T. crocea, and T. noae, do not warrant further consideration.

NOAA Fisheries Releases the Annual Status of Stocks U.S. Fisheries Report and Fisheries Economics of the U.S. Report.

Each report highlights the progress the nation has made in ending overfishing, rebuilding historically overfished stocks, and helping our fishermen, fish farmers, and fishing communities.
The Fisheries Economics of the U.S. report continues to be a positive indicator of the value of U.S. fisheries to the economy with commercial and recreational fishing generating $200 billion in sales, contributing $97 billion to the gross domestic product, and supporting 1.6 million full- and part-time jobs. For more information on both reports and other supporting materials, see here.

2016 Status of Stocks U.S. Fisheries Report, see here.2015 Fisheries Economics of the U.S. Report, see here.Press Release, see here.

2017 Year of the Monk Seal:
Population Increases Over the Last 3 Years

NOAA Fisheries announces the population increase of Hawaiian monk seals! In recognition of a decade of conservation efforts and as part of our Species in the Spotlight initiative, we celebrate this good news and renew our dedication to work ahead with the Year of the Monk Seal!

For the latest updates on monk seals, see here.
For more information about monk seal populations, see here.
For more information about monk seal research, see here.